"Even though the Fourth Mizukage's genjutsu has been dispelled, you are still publicly a traitor who assassinated the Mizukage. For the honor of Hidden Mist, they will not call off their pursuit of you.
However, you don't need to worry about this. As a companion in the organization, I will help you conceal your identity.
Similarly, if you truly wish to return and seize the Mizukage's position in the future, I can also help, especially by providing some financial assistance."
Li Chuan clapped his hands and stood up.
Zabuza, carrying Kubikiribōchō, also rose from the ground. He stared at Li Chuan for a long while before speaking:
"What do you need us to do?"
There's no such thing as a free lunch. The other party is providing intelligence, healing, returning Kubikiribōchō, and offering all sorts of help; how could there be no strings attached?
"We are all companions; this bit of help is nothing. If you think it's acceptable, a few days later, help me kill Gato. With him around, even if the bridge is repaired, the lives of the people of Land of Waves will not improve.
A monk's compassion is boundless; he cannot bear to see people suffer!"
Li Chuan made a show of being compassionate, which made both Zabuza and White twitch their mouths.
Then he threw tokens engraved with the words 'White' and 'Black' to White and Zabuza.
"These are the tokens of our organization. With them, you will be welcomed at any Chuanji store in any town in the Land of Fire. You can go to a nearby town to recuperate first; I will notify you when it's time to act."
Shortly after he returned to Konoha this time, he began instructing Kinoe to have the merchant group establish stores sequentially in all towns within the Land of Fire, naming all of them Chuanji.
On the surface, they were all ordinary general stores, normally assisting the merchant group with business, but in reality, secret rooms were built underground, which could be used for concealment and rest.
Currently, funding is not very abundant. After taking over Gato's enterprises and absorbing the entire commercial profit of the Land of Waves, he will also establish stores in all other countries in the future, expanding operations and assisting in intelligence gathering.
General stores, hotels, inns, entertainment establishments, hot springs, and so on—a diversified and comprehensive development.
"How many members does our organization currently have?"
After putting away the token, Zabuza asked Li Chuan, who was about to turn and leave.
Li Chuan pointed at Zabuza and White, then pointed at himself:
"Currently, there are only three official members: us. In the future, I will recruit more based on the situation, and of course, if you have good candidates, you can recommend them to me."
After speaking, he did not linger and quickly turned to leave.
And it wasn't until Li Chuan's figure completely disappeared that White spoke to Zabuza:
"Zabuza My Lord, are we really going to join his organization?"
He had a good impression of Li Chuan, but that was when it didn't involve Zabuza's will. If Zabuza told him to kill Li Chuan, he would still act completely according to Zabuza's will.
Zabuza rested Kubikiribōchō on his shoulder:
"Anyway, there's no harm in it for us. And that Gato, if it weren't for the money and to prevent those annoying pursuit squads from causing trouble again, I would have killed him long ago.
A mere ordinary person dares to boss me around."
He knew Li Chuan wanted to use him, but he also wanted to use Li Chuan. At least, he genuinely wanted to know which scoundrel had controlled Yagura with genjutsu back then.
On the other side, Li Chuan, having dealt with Zabuza and White, returned to the initial battle location. Following the traces left by Naruto and the others when they left, he quickly tracked them to Tazuna's residence.
"Brother Chuan!"
Sakura was wringing out a towel at the door and immediately showed a look of pleasant surprise when she saw Li Chuan appear.
Just now, she had been worried that Li Chuan might be in danger going after Zabuza and that boy, as the boy's strength, as Zabuza's companion, was definitely not weak.
"Oh, it's Sakura. Where is Kakashi-sensei?"
"Kakashi-sensei fainted after you left and hasn't woken up yet," Sakura replied with a worried tone.
Unlike Sasuke and Naruto, Sakura, in addition to being a top student, had strength similar to a normal Ninja of her age group; she was just a very typical newly graduated Genin.
So, just now, seeing the Jonin-level battle between Kakashi and Zabuza, her heart was still very panicked.
"It seems he was injured during the fight with Zabuza. This humble monk has a rough understanding of medical Ninjutsu and should be able to help."
Li Chuan smiled and comforted her.
Sakura's face lit up at his words. She immediately dropped the towel and led Li Chuan to Kakashi's room.
At this time, besides Naruto and Sasuke, Tazuna and his family were also in the room. Seeing Li Chuan appear, Naruto immediately asked:
"Brother Chuan, did you catch up with Zabuza and them?"
Although Sasuke didn't speak, he also perked up his ears, clearly very interested in the outcome.
"It's shameful to say, I did catch up, but that boy is very strong and uses some special Ninjutsu. This humble monk couldn't stop him, and he even snatched the scroll that sealed the great blade."
Li Chuan shook his head, then changed the subject:
"Enough about that, let's treat Kakashi-sensei first!"
After speaking, he squatted down and began to use Healing Palm Technique on several of Kakashi's wounds.
"Kakashi-sensei's external injuries are not severe; it's mainly Chakra depletion, and his body is a bit overstressed. He should recover after a few days of rest."
"Damn it, he's not much older than us, but his strength is so great! I must train even harder."
Hearing that Li Chuan, who was so strong, was no match for that boy, Naruto immediately gritted his teeth and shouted. Compared to that boy, he felt like a good-for-nothing.
Sasuke, sitting there with a cool expression, also clenched his fists tightly. For the first time, the usually arrogant Sasuke felt that he wasn't much stronger than Naruto.
Just then, Kakashi also woke up from his coma. Hearing Naruto's words, he couldn't help but reach out and place his hand on his head.
"In this World, there are Ninja who are not much older than you but are even stronger than me. Keep training hard!"
He remembered his former subordinate from Anbu, Sasuke's brother, Uchiha Itachi, a Konoha S-Rank rogue Ninja who single-handedly carried out the Carnage of the entire Uchiha clan.
"That boy is three or four years older than you. When you reach his age, you will definitely be stronger than him. As for this humble monk, I am already twenty this year, eight years older than you. When you reach this age, you will all become powerful Ninja renowned throughout the Ninja World."
Li Chuan also smiled and offered comfort.
Actually, he wasn't just comforting them, because it was true. If the plot developed as it should, both of them would become the strongest Ninja in the Ninja World before they even reached twenty.
"Brother Chuan is so gentle, and so handsome. If only he weren't a monk, and a little younger."
Sakura, looking at Li Chuan, thought to herself.
Then she turned to look at the still cool Sasuke, and her cheeks instantly flushed.
"Speaking of which, Sasuke and I are the best match. By the time we're both twenty, will we already have little babies…"
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